Electrical flechette spin rig for wind tunnel testing

Abstract

A sting for supporting and spinning small diameter models in a wind tunnel consistsing of a rear section securable within a standard wind tunnel, a cone shaped region at the front end of the rear section and a small diameter, model supporting, front section upon which a balance and a model can be mounted; an electric motor within the rear section aligned along the string axis; a drive gear mounted on the motor shaft; a driven shaft parallel to the motor shaft and extending from the motor to the cone shaped region, a driven pinion at the rear end of the driven shaft in meshing contact with the drive gear, a drive pinion at the front end of the drive shaft, a driving sleeve on the front section having a driving gear secured to its rear end and in engagement with the drive pinion, and a pair of spigots at the front end of the driving sleeve for contacting a model to be tested.

I claim: 
     
       1. A sting for supporting and spinning small diameter models in a wind tunnel consisting of a rear section securable within a standard wind tunnel, a cone shaped region at the front end of the rear section and a small diameter, model supporting, front section upon which a balance and a model can be mounted; an electric motor within the rear section aligned along the sting axis; a drive gear mounted on the motor shaft; a driven shaft parallel to the motor shaft and extending from the motor to the cone shaped region, a driven pinion at the rear end of the driven shaft in meshing contact with the drive gear, a drive pinion at the front end of the drive shaft, a driving sleeve on the front section having a driving gear secured to its rear end and in engagement with the drive pinion, and a pair of spigots at the front end of the driving sleeve for contacting a model to be tested. 
     
     
       2. The sting of claim 1, including an actuator which can selectively position the drive sleeve between an engaged forward position with a model being tested and a disengaged rearward position. 
     
     
       3. The sting of claim 2, wherein the actuator includes a threaded bushing rotatably secured to the rear end of the drive sleeve, an actuator worm within the bushings, and a gearhead motor within the cone shaped region having an output to which the worm is secured. 
     
     
       4. The sting of claim 3, wherein a photoelectric position detector is situated adjacent to the threaded bushing to monitor the position of the actuator. 
     
     
       5. The sting of claim 1, wherein the electric motor is of the cobalt permanent magnet stator type which delivers a high coercive force.